Directing apparatus



Jan. 7, 1958 J. R. JASSE DIRECTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 12. 1.953

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DIRECTING APPARATUS Filed May 12. 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 200 R m gass e J. R. JASSE DIRECTING APPARATUS Jan. 7, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 12. 1953 g Q w m DIRECTING APPARATUS Joseph Raymond Jasse, Paris, France, assiglror to Societe Nouvelle des Etablissements Brandt, Paris, France, a French body corporate Application May 12, 1953, Serial No. 354,454

Claims priority, application France May 14, 1952 1 Claim. (Cl. 89-41) The present invention relates to the directing of artillery equipment adapted for launching selfpropelled proectiles. J The effect of the wind on these selfpropelled projectiles has not heretofore been suitably corrected owing to a lack of equipment sufiiciently accurate and instantaneous to permit of a continuous correction. It is well known that the detrimental effect of the wind on the performance of suchlike projectiles is particularly marked during the selfpropelled period of flight which is of very short duration. The correction introduced must therefore be that which exactly corresponds to the wind acting in the vicinity of the firing piece at the moment of issue of the projectile. It is also known that the action of the wind on selfpropelled projectiles differs according as those projectiles are stabilized by vanes or by gyroscopic means. In the case of vaned projectiles, the component of the wind in the plane of fire acts upon the range and must be compensated for by a modification of the angle of elevation, whereas the transverse component of the wind, since it causes a deviation from the plane of fire, requires a correction in azimuth. In the case of gyroscopically stabilized projectiles, as a rule the reverse is true. The component of the wind perpendicular to the plane of fire causes a rise or fall in the trajectory which must be corrected for by a modification in the angle of elevation whereas the longitudinal component, although unaffecting point blank firing along the horizontal, acts upon the direction of the projecticle in a manner depending on the slope of the trajectory, which implies a direction correction dependent on this slope. With some gyroscopically stabilized projectiles, it might occur that the two components of the wind act simultaneously upon the direction and range.

In any case, to compensate the effect of wind on selfpropelled projectiles, it is necessary to modify in a continuous and automatic way the lay of the launching apparatus in elevation and azimuth.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved directing or pointing apparatus for artillery material adapted for launching selfpropelled projectiles, this apparatus permitting corrections for wind in direction and range to be made automatically, instantaneously, and continuously.

The invention has more particularly for its object to provide a directing apparatus wherein the directing device includes a sighting device responsive to an anemometric device placed in the immediate vicinity of the latter and adapted for modifying the position of this sighting device in a manner depending on the speed and direction of the wind.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the ensuing description. In the accompanying drawings given solely by way of example:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a self-supporting firing piece equipped with a directing or pointing apparatus improved in accordance with the invention,

. sion of the screw 13. On this shaft is pinned a mem ber 32 supporting two diametrally opposed rods 33 which 2,81,782 Patented Jan. 7, 1958 Fig. 2 is a rear view in elevation of the directing device or directing apparatus proper,

Fig. 3 is a front view thereof including the sight,

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse and longitudinal sections thereof,

Fig. 6 is a diagram of the various electrical connections between the anemometric head and two motors of the directing device, and

Figs. 7 and 8 are views in elevation with cut-away portions of two modifications of the directing device.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the invention is applied to a launching piece for several selfpropelled projectiles. This piece comprises a motor vehicle 1 provided with several similar launching tubes 2, the directing being obtained by means of a directing device or directing apparatus proper A, provided with a sighting device constituted by a sight or telescope 3. This directing device is connected by means of a servomechanism B to an anemometric head C adapted for correcting the directing data as a function of longitudinal and transverse components of the wind in the vicinity of the launching piece, the electric current necessary for the connections between the directing device A and the we mometrichead C being supplied by an electric source consisting of a battery D having a voltage across the end terminals a and b of the order of 24 volts, an intermediate terminal being provided at 0 (see Fig. 6). A cable 4 connects the anemometric head C to the servomechanism B, which is connected by a cable 5 to the source D, and by another cable 6 to the directing device A.

These various devices will now be described in turn.

(a) Directing device A (Figs. 2 to 5 ).-It comprises a metal block or support 7 provided with a slide 8 having a dovetailed section adapted for engaging in a slideway carried at the side of the firing tube carriage, a lock 8 (Fig. 2) which ensures the looking into position of the slide 8 when a lever 8 is tipped about an axis 8. In a bore having a vertical axis XX provided in the support 7, is journa-lled a cylindrical nut 9 held axially, through the medium of a shoulder 10, by a ring 11 fixed to the support 7 by screws 12 (Fig. 5). In the tapped hole in the nut 9 is screwed a screw 13 the head of which includes a recess 14 in which is housed a ball 15. The nut 9 may be driven in rotation directly by hand through the medium of a raising knob 16 integral with a worm 17 which is journalled in two rings rigidly secured in the support 7 and which is in mesh with a toothed portion provided on the outer face of the nut 9. By rotating the knob 16, the screw 13 can be displaced axially. This screw is prevented from turning in a manner hereinafter described. This displacement of the screw 16 introduces a correction in elevation according to the distance of the objective. The positions of the nut 9 about the axis XX may be read off a first graduated drum 19 which is integral with this nut and moves before an index 20 (Fig. 2) provided on a plate 21 fixed to the support 7.

In order to introduce corrections in elevation compensating the effect of the wind (range), the screw 13 may be driven in rotation about the axis XX by means of an electric motor 23 housed in a housing 24, which posts 25 connect to the support 7. This motor, which is reversible and the feed of which is dependent on the anemometric head 9 as will be hereinafter explained drives, through the medium of its shaft 26 and a step-down gear including a gear pinion 27, a gear Wheel 28, a worm 29, and a worm wheel 30, a shaft 31 disposed in the extenslide in a crosspiece 34 fixed on the end of the screw 13. According to the direction of rotation of the motor 23, the screw 13 screws or unscrews itself with respect to the nut 9 and causes the ball 15 to be displaced along the axis XX. The rotation of the screw 13 canbe read.

oil? a second graduated drum 35 in front of a second index 36 provided on a plate 37 also fixed to the support 7.

The ball 15 abuts against a heel 3.8 fixed on the end of a cradle 39 mounted to .pivotabout an axis/40in a fork 41 integral with a turret 42 rotatively mounted on the support .7 through the medium of ajournal -43' having an axis VV parallel to axis UU. The axis WW, about which the cradle 39 pivots on turret 42,'*is normal .tothe axes UU and W .and ris,.therefore, 'horizon--- tal. Correction for deviation in direction is obtained by rotating the turret 42 about. the axis 'Phe cradle 39 is biased against the ball 15 :by means of springs 43* the side of the support 7 and the housing 24. The shaft] 50 f this motor is connected by means of a step cfhjwn gear train 51 to a 'toothedsector '52 provided at the periphery of-the turret'42.

The'di'recting or pointing device A is completed by an auxiliary device by means offwhich corrections, in angle of elevation are possible. by hand setting of the screw 13in the event, for example, of a break-down. in the operation of the anemometric device C or the servomechanism'Bicaused by, for example, a run-down .bat-. tery D. This device, shown in Fig. 4, comprises a screwed piece 53 provided with a foot 54. attached to the housing 24 in such manner that. the axis of the means of a lock 57 which is movable'in a radial slot .58 provided in the nut and which is biassed by-.a spring 59 into one or other of two grooves 60 provided. in the screwed part 53 in two perpendicular planes throughthe axis of the latter. Theside Walls of the groove 60.are beveled so that when the-pushbar 56 is urged .in rotation about this axis in one direction or the other, thezlock 57 ,tautomatically disengages from thegroove .in;opposition. to;.the action of the spring 59. Against theuouter face61 of the nut 55 abuts-a control knob 62 keyed 'on'n shaft 63- rotatively and slidably mounted in thenut-"55:

This shaft comprises inside the housing 24 a. flange 64 provided with two diametrallyopposed pins 65 capable of engaging respectively in .oneor vother-ofrtwo diamet-rally opposed openings 66' in the :gear wheel 28: A spring 67 abuts against a shoulder 68 provided .in the screwed part 53 and against the flange .64 and urges the shaft 63 towards .the right in the view shown in Fig. 4, so that the pins. .65-engage the openings 66. In the disengaged position, the various, members are in their positions shown in Fig. 4. The nut 55 is sufiiciently unscrewedthat its face .61, in urging the control knob '63 towards the left, .holds the pins 65 out of engagement with the openings 66.

When it is desired to engage the auxiliary device, the nut 53 is rotated .by means of the pushba-r 56, so as to screw it in a direction'to displace its face. 6-1 towards the right in the view shown in Fig. 4. The control-"knob 62.and the shaft 63 :are temporarily retained by the abutment of the pins 65: against theface-of thegear wheel 29.. When the nut 53 has been stopped by the lock 57- in a. desired engaged position, it sutlices to turn thereona trolknob 62 in .any direction until the pins 65 come into the action. of the springs 67,, whereupon, in turning the control knob 62 in one direction or the other, the screw 13 may be rotated by hand and thereby effect any desired correction in the angle of elevation. This correction may be read off the graduated drum 35 opposite the index 36.

Fig. 6 will now be considered, which represents, by

way of example, an embodiment of the anemometric.

head C andjthe'mechanism B connecting this headito the-directing device A. This anemometric. head and this mechanism will be described in turn.

Anemomem'c1head--C.+1t comprises a hollow support 70, in which is rotatively mounted, about an axis 'XX, a shaft 71 which is driven in rotation, through the medium of a speed reducer 72, by areversible electric motor 73. On the upper end of the shaft 72, above the support 70, is fixed a plate 74 (Fig. 1) forming the lower part of a protective cage having .a side wall '75 which.

is perforated in order to allow the free passage of the wind therethrough. Inside the cage is disposed a cylindrical casingr76 which has an axis YY perpendicular to the axis andv is hired to the plate 14 so that it and its conjugate parts may take part in the rotation of the shaft 71. Inside the cylindrical casing 76 is disposed a wind wheel or rotor 77 which is keyed on a shaft 78 having an axis W and .j'ournalled in bearings supported,

by the casing 76. From this cylindrical casing is sus-.

pended, about pivots 79, a vane or flap 80. The axis ZZ of these pivots is disposed parallel to the axes YY and XX. On either side of the mean position occupied.

by this vane 80 under the effect of the forceof gravity or a return spring (in the case of an astatic vane), the plate 74 carries two contact studs 81 and :81 insulated from this plate and with either one of which this vane enters into contact as soonv as the direction of the wind veers towards to the .right or leftof the vertical plane throughv the axis YY. Conductors 82 and 82 lead from these contact studs to contact or :slip rings .83.'and 83 fixed on the shaft 7.1 and on which rub two brushes 84 and v84 which conductors 85 and \35 connect tonne of the endswof-one or. other of two relay coils. 86 or 86%.

of electricity D, so that one .or other of these relays is energized according as the wind causes the vane .80, whichisearthed, to contact the contact stud 31 'or 81*, The; t-worelays-control two reversing switches88iwand 88?: arranged .as;polarity reversers and connected to :earth at. 89, to :the terminalsof the motor 73 by conductors 90 and 91, and to an intermediate terminal 1c of the source -D by; another conductor '92.

Assoon as'the. wind veers to .one side or theother of .the vertical plane through theaxis YY, the vane oscillates and, in contacting one .of the studs 81 and dl causes nor-1e .of the relays to .be-xenergized. This-relay closes one of the reversinguswitches which-in turn results in a voltage beingapplied across the terminals of the motor 73 in one direction or the other. Thismotor drives inrotation thecmovable unit about the axis XX in a direction to return the plane containing the axesand ZZ to a position. in which it is parallel with the direction of the wind. This permits. an automatic, accurate, and step by step, orientation :of the wind :wheel so that theaxis ofthe latteralways lies parallelito:.the=v wind direction. Thus, the rotation of the wind wheel is an exact function of the wind componentparallel-to,

the axis of the'wind wheel, i. e. the horizontal wi-nd component of this axis is horizontal.

For determining or detectingv the velocity .of the wind along this component, the wind wheel 77 and its shaft.

78 are combined with a current modulatingdevice. This device comprises a small conductive star 93 provided line, with the opening 66, in which they engage under 75 with anodd number .of equispaced, .radial..branches or arms. This star is fixed on the shaft 78 through the The two other ends of these coils are connected by a single conductor .87 to the terminal b of asourcev medium of a device constituting a capacitor, which is diagrammatically represented at C One of the electrodes of this capacitor is connected to the star and the other is earthed through the shaft 78. The star 93 cooperates with two conductive points 94 and 95 fixed, through the medium of insulators, to the cylindrical casing, and disposed symmetrically about the axis YY so that their ends are in the immediate vicinity of the transverse plane containing the branches of the star. Hence, when the branches pass by the point 94, the point 95 is mid-way between two other branches and viceversa. The point 94 is at a high potential, for example, of the order of 4000 volts. It is connected by a conductor 96 to a ring 97 fixed on the shaft 71 and on which rubs a brush 96 which a conductor 99 connects to a rectifying and transforming device including a stepup transformer 100 the primary 101 of which is connected by conductors 102 to a feed device, whereas the secondaries 103 and 104, feed a rectifying valve 105. The other point 95 is connected by a conductor 106 to a ring 107 fixed on the shaft 71 and on which rubs a brush 108 which a conductor 109 connects to the device D.

The anemometric head is completed by two sets of cams 110, 111, and 110 111 fixed on the shaft 71. Each of the cams 110 and 110 includes two semi-circular portions having different radii and connected together by two diametrally opposed steps. They cooperate with followers 112 and 112 which carry the movable contact studs of switches 113 and 113*, the movable studs being connected by conductors 114 and 114 to the device B, whereas the fixed contact studs are earthed. The follower 112 and the cam 110 are so arranged on the shaft about the axis XX that the diametral line through the steps of the cam passes the follower when the direction of the wind in plan coincides with the plane of fire P. The cam 110'- is disposed about the axis XX with a phase lag of 90 relative to the cam 110. The cams 111 and 111 are respectively cosine and sine cams if the directing apparatus is for firing vaned projectiles and sine and cosine cams if gyroscop ically stabilized projectiles are being fired. Against each of these cams is resiliently urged a follower, 115 or 115, carrying the slider, 116 or 116*, of a potentiometer 117 or 117 The slider, 116 or 116*, is insulated from earth and is connected by a conductor, 118 or 118*, to the device B, and the resistor, 117 or 117*, has one of its ends earthed and the other end is connected by a conductor, 119 or 119 to the device B. These cams are so arranged as to change the respective positions of the sliders 116 and 116 on the resistors 117 and 117 proportionally to the trigonometrical cosine and sine functions (or conversely) of the angle between the plane of fire P and the direction in plan of the wind.

Unit B.-This unit, housed in a case, comprises a high tension feed device E, a frequency meter F and two follow-up, calculating, transmitting, and exploiting devices G and G pertaining to the motor 23 and the motor 48 respectively.

Feed device E.-It comprises a converter composed of a motor 120, connected to the terminals b and c of the source D, and an alternating current generator 121, the rotor of which is coupled to the shaft of the motor 120. To the terminals of this generator 121 are connected the feed conductors 102 of the rectifier 100-105, and the primary of a transformer 122, the secondary of which feeds two rectifying valves 123 and 124 adapted to give, in combination with normal filters 125 and 126, at the terminal d a high voltage +HT (relative to the earth of zero voltage) equal, for example, to +150 volts, and at the terminal e a voltage HT equal, for example, to 100 volts.

Frequency meter F.The conductor 109, which is connected to the point 95 in the anemornetric head C, is

connected to earth through a capacitor C and a fesistoi R and is also connected, bya capacitor C to the two grids of a thyratron V tetrode (for example of the type 2D21). These two grids are also connected to the cathode of the thyratron by a resistor R and to the HT by a resistor R The cathode of the thyratron is connected to earth through potentiometers 117 and 117 and through a capacitor C The anode of the thyratron is connected to the HT (+150 volts) by two resistors R andR connected in series. A capacitor C connects the common connection of these two resistors to the cathode.

Follow-up device G.-The slider 116 of the potentiom-- eter 117 is connected to the grid of the triode V which (to the two coils 127 and 128 of a polarized relay r the ends of these coils not connected to the anodes of the double triode being connected together and to the high tension +HT, the manner of connecting being such that the fields produced in the two coils of the relays by the anode currents from the two triodes V and V are in opposition. The contact 129 of this polarized relay r connects the 12 volts to the coil 130 of a relay r having two reversing switches 131 and 132, which are so connected as to reverse the polarity. Thus the +12 volts and earth are respectively connected to the two contact blades of this relay in one direction when it is not energized, and in the opposite direction when it is energized.

The two blades of this relay are connected to a third coil 133 of the relay r in series with a resistor R These two blades are also connected to the two blades 134 and 135 of a relay r energized, with another relay r.;, by the +12 volts across the contact 113, which is controlled by the cam 110 integral with the shaft 71 and is opened when the wind comes from the right relative to the plane of fire P. The relay r is also connected for reversing the polarity, and at its output end is connected to the two poles of the motor 23, which controls the rotation of the screw 13, the position of which changes with the wind speed and direction. The relay r is also a polarity reverser and, depending on whether it is energized or not, the direction in which the +12 volts and the negative voltage HT (through the resistor R are applied to the two ends of a potentiometer 136 is direct or permuted. The slider 137 of this potentiometer is controlled by the motor 23, so that its movement is related to that of the screw 13; it is, furthermore, connected to the grid of the triode V The device G pertaining to the motor 48, is identical to the device G, except that the contactor 113 and the potentiometer 117 are replaced by the contactor 113 and the potentiometer 117 respectively.

The operation of the assembly of the directing or pointing apparatus is as follows. When a branch of the star 93, which is driven in rotation by the shaft 78 of the wind wheel 77, passes sufficiently near the fixed point 94- at the potential of 4000 volts, a spark or a series of sparks occur which charge the capacitor C When, the wind wheel continuing its rotation, a branch of the star passes near the fixed point 95, a spark occurs and discharges the capacitor C into the capacitor C which in turn gradually discharges into the resistor R Hence, there appears across the terminals of the capacitor C well defined pulses that correspond to the passages of the branches of the star in front of the point 95. The capacitor C transmits these pulses to the grids of the thyratron V Normally, this thyratron is polarized by the voltage divider constituted by the two resistors R and R so that the polarization of the thyratron remains more or less constant when the potential of the cathode of. this thyratron changes. At the moment when the grids of this thyratron receive a pulse, the latter ionizes, and the capacitor Q3, Charged. at thesnormal. rate "by the" tension ,through lbe ,res'iston R ,'.Idischar ges. 'fth1'oug h the. re'sistorIR; ,(which constitutes .a protective resistor hmrting .the current ,in the ,thyratron to .a safe. value); and across thefthYratronjit-self.

.After each. discharge, the, capacitornCg, is recharged.

by the. +111 .through,theresistor'Rg. T e rech rg ng current, if it "is. to. return. to earth, must ,pass through the potentiometer .117; now since... as. ajfirst,..'app.r.0'2iim' 1'tibn,.

second, i. .e, 1 the. rotatiye, speed; of, the, Wih'djWhell'W...

The mean voltage-iatthe terniina sidfithepotentiometer 1117;.is,jtheu,.,Proportional to speed, The-capacitor C which" is in, parallel, with 'thisj ,poteilfiomfiter, .allQW thronghpractic'ally all .offthe. alternating component of the recharging current oflthecapa'citoricg,- Thusat the terminals of; this capacitorCg, and across. the potentiometerl 117itherefis. a voltage which'is proportional. to the wind" velocity. andis substantially continuous. Asfithe slider 1:16 of the-potentiometer is. controllejdjby thecosine camlll'l' in the caseof vandgprojwtiles, or 'theJine cam "in the case'of gyros.copica ly. stabilized projectiles, there is. in "the conductor 11.8. a \vdltage'. which. is proportional'to the windlveloci'ty componentrin the plane of fire, orlin'ithe plane perpendicular, to, fhe'flatter, i. e. .the component which has to be takeninto account for correcting the angle of elevation 'if the axes "XXfis vertical.

"The operation and functionof the.servome chanism.G will nowrbe considered, it being supposedlfltattheuiind iscoming from the right relative tothe plane offline .1, so'thatthe relays 1: and r are not energized. Sincethe double .triode CV V hasjits two cathodes connected together and to the -FHT bylthe resistor R ,,the. sumof the currents 'of'thetwo triocles is, as,a.first.:approximation, constant, .the distribution of the currents of. the twotriodes only depending on the differencejbetween the voltages of the two grids. Theco'ils127 and;12.8of therelay lr are "in opposition, so that this relay is or is not energize'rl'according as the voltage of.the gr.id V .is greater or lessthan'that of"the grid'of"v If the relay r is. energized; the relay Z2 is energized, and vice-versa, .andthe voltage across .the terminals of the -motor.23 isfinone direction or the other. 'This'motor'23 controls the .slider e:

to that'ofthegrid of the valve'V if the potentiometer is linearly wound, the distance between the position the slider assumes and the mid-Way position is proportional tothe'component .of'the wind in the direction of the plane of"'fire,"or in the direction perpendicular thereto according as. the cam .111 is a cosine or a sine cam. However, the operation is. a little more complex; the relay r reacts "on'the relay r through the medium of its coi-llSi and-through'the resistor R The purpose of this reactionis to 'prevent the motor 23 from making. the slider-1370f the potentiometer "136 oscillate about its position-50f equilibrium. Hence, when this slider arrives fairly near 'its 'position'of equilibrium, the relays r ..and r oscillate ata relatively high frequency and the motor 23 is fed only'with a "slight vibration of insignificant amplitude;

If thewindweers to the left, the contact 113 closes, the relays r -and ryare energized, an'd'the lower part of the potentiometer 136 is then connected to the +12 volts and, ;the-'con-neetions of'the 'motor 23 having been reversed;sothat-fdllow up still occurs, the slider'137 is brought. by-thismotor '23 to a point'in the lower part of -the; potentiometer which correspon-ds to a rotation of thertshaftofithis potentiometer in 'a directionopposite to thattofrthe rotation which occurred when the wind cam from theright.

The operation ,Qfthe device 6, which pertains to the motor 48 adaptedfor adjusting in direct1on, 1s identical.

"In Fig. 7" there isrepresented .a modification of the invention, in whichthe correction in direction (if the axisUUfis vertical) or 'in elevation (if the axis "UU is horizontal) "is-obtained by turning the sighting device unit about theyaxis UU. To this end, the-turret 42 of thefirst embodm ent -is eliminatedand the fork 41 on which i s pivotedihecradle 39 is integral with the support 7 "The-unit com-prisingthis-support 7 and the housing 24 'is fixedon a plate 13 adapted to be driven in-rotation through a -speed reducer 139 by the motor 48 housed inside a fixed -housing'140.

Inthe speoial case-ofpoint blank range, only'the transverse component of the wind is considered. This component necessitates a correction indirection in the case of vaned projectiles and in elevation in the case of'gyroscopically stabilized projectiles. The apparatus is 'in consequence-very simple, since it requires only one motor. This type of .apparatus is especially advantageous for antiitankeartilleryin .Which the instantaneous, automatic, and continuouscorrectionfor wind is indispensable. For point blank range the simplified device shown in Fig. 7 maybe: utilized. inrthisdevicethecradle .39 is pivoted 'direct lyion the support 7*. under the control of the motor 23.. 'The'pivotaxisnofthe cradle would be vertical if a -V3.I1ed PIQCtflB';lS used,..and1 horizontal if the projectile, usfidds gyroscapicallyv stabilized; the. single .cam lllewould then bezatcosine cam.

In t the. foregoing description it had been supposed that the otentiometers iwerearrangedifor; .givingzthe screw :13

and the. turret .42 displacements which were proportionaltothe wind components. However, there-might arise.

instances where the. required corrections were not pro portional toithese windcomponents. In this event the.

necessary" modification. could be effect-ed by introducing between the...cnadlet.39or the turret =42.and the transmissionmeans (screw lit er :the step-down gear 51) .a-cor' roofing cam..similar. to .thatil'lustratedat 38 (Fig. 5) between thercradleaudthe ball .15. Alternatively, the potentiometersmay belarrangedin .suchmanneras to;giv.c the true correctionsd-irectly.

'The'invention is not limited tozthe. details of construe tion herein desc'fibedand illustrated in the accompanying drawings which have been given merely by .way of ex ample.

The setting in elevation, which in the represented embodiment is obtained by'hand by means of the control knob16', may be obtained by acting on thenut 9 in any other manner, l'fOI example in a continuous manner if the target ismoving.

Theanemorneter .and its current modulating device may be of 'a type other than that described, provided it is possible -to-obtain 'the'components of the wind in two directions perpendicular to one another-in the form of rotation-s0-f shaftsproportional to these components or to corresponding corrections for Wind; .for it is these rotations which, being automatically incorporated in the directing apparatus, modify the angularposition of the :sight or telescope by the necessary correcting angle.

include a .pre-amp li fyingstage between the sliders of s the :potentiometersanid thegrids-of the triodes V and V this-'xsta-ge beingtincorporated in a-similar way to the controlcstage ofthe relay r as a symmetrical amplifier ofthe Loftin white type.

The single capacitor C may --be-replaced by av set of xcommuta'ble capacitors which-permits of an adjustment by-stepsof the-sensitivity-of the unit.

Insteadof'the potentiometers '117 andf117 controlled by the sine and cosine cams or conversely, any other devicemayrbeusedywith which it wouldbe possible to introduce between the voltage and 'the frequency any other coefiicient of proportionality, which may be constant or variable, a function of any parameter other than the angle between the direction of the wind and the plane of fire P, for example a correction related to the elevation brought about by means of the control knob 16, or even a coeflicient that varies according to any law.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, the electrical devices connecting the directing apparatus with the anemometer may be replaced by any other means, which may or may not be electrical, such as, for example, flexible couplings whereby the same result may be obtained.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a directing device for launching pieces, adapted to launch selfpropelled projectiles, this launching piece including a carriage and an anemometric device, in combination: a support adapted for being fixed on said carriage, a turret mounted on said support to rotate about a first axis, a cradle mounted on said turret to pivot about a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, a nut journalled in said support, an auxiliary manually operable member, means for connecting said member to said nut for turning it in said support so as to bring about a setting in elevation or direction depending on the direction of the pivotal axis of said cradle, a screw screwed into said nut, said cradle bearing on one of the ends of said screw, two reversible electric motors mounted on said support to drive said screw and said turret and connections which are electromagnetic, electromechanical, and electronic, for connecting said motors to said anemometric device so that said device receives corrections in elevation and direction one of which is dependent on the component of the Wind in the plane of fire and the other is dependent on the transverse component of the wind.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 556,048 Fiske Mar. 10, 1896 1,504,676 Carmier Aug. 12, 1924 1,592,487 Gerhardt July 13, 1926 1,676,963 Paulus July 10, 1928 2,429,467 Ketay Oct. 21, 1947 2,574,336 Libman et a1. Nov. 6, 1951 2,642,662 Lyon June 23, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 310,079 Germany Sept. 6, 1921 836,031 France Oct. 10, 1938 

